Quebec Premier François Legault is facing criticism after stating that Quebec does not have a history of political violence, in the wake of the recent shooting at a Republican baseball practice in the United States.
During a press conference on Thursday, Legault was asked about the shooting and whether he believed Quebec could experience similar political violence. In response, he stated, “We don’t have that kind of violence in Quebec. We have debates, we have disagreements, but we don’t have that kind of violence.”
His comments have sparked backlash from political opponents and activists, who argue that Quebec has a long history of political violence, particularly towards marginalized communities.
In a statement, the opposition party Québec Solidaire accused Legault of being “in denial” and pointed to the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting, where six Muslim men were killed by a far-right extremist.
Activist group Justice for Victims of Police Killings also criticized Legault’s remarks, citing numerous cases of police violence against Indigenous and racialized communities in Quebec.
Furthermore, some have pointed out that Legault’s statement ignores the ongoing issue of femicide in the province, where women are killed by their intimate partners at an alarming rate.
In response to the backlash, Legault’s office released a statement clarifying his comments, stating that he was referring specifically to political violence and not violence in general.
However, critics argue that this distinction is not enough, as it still ignores the reality of violence faced by marginalized communities in Quebec.
This is not the first time Legault has faced criticism for downplaying issues of violence and discrimination in the province. In 2019, he faced backlash for stating that systemic racism does not exist in Quebec, despite numerous reports and studies showing otherwise.
As the debate over Legault’s comments continues, it is clear that many in Quebec are calling for a more honest and nuanced discussion about the issue of violence in the province.
